Family: Murder suspect was protecting his daughters

February 09, 2010

The family of a former drug counselor charged with first-degree murder said today that he acted in defense of his children after the shooting victim had tried to sell him drugs and accosted his teenage daughter.

Elliot Mayfield, 51, was waiting for a bus with his two daughters -- 15 and 11 -- and their friend Sunday night at 6114 S. King Drive when he shot Samuel Fullilove, 33, in the chest.

After a 1990 drug-related conviction, relatives said, Mayfield spent the last two decades trying to help others beat substance abuse and kept a gun for protection because crime was so bad in his Woodlawn neighborhood.

"We feel like Elliot did everything he needed to do to try to walk away from the situation, but he thought that the guy was going to hurt his girls," said a man who identified himself as Mayfield's nephew but declined to give his name.

According to police, Mayfield rebuffed Fullilove's efforts to sell him drugs. Fullilove allegedly taunted Mayfield and then swung at him several times but missed, they said.

Fullilove then jumped in front of the older daughter and began to chase Mayfield, according to the police report. The daughter screamed, "Leave my daddy alone."

Mayfield told police he pulled out a handgun and placed the weapon to Fullilove's cheek. When the victim rushed at him, Mayfield fired once, police said.

Court records show that Fullilove had an extensive history of misdemeanor arrests for crimes including domestic battery, resisting arrest and possession of cannabis.